Chapter 1815: Innate Sacred Body and Dao Embryo

The finale is tomorrow.

Xiaosong was filled with doubt and confusion. While his master was invincible, entrusting the unconscious man to the Black Emperor felt very much like throwing a meat bun to a dog or a lamb into a tiger's den.

"You don't recognize good intentions," the large black dog declared pompously, its wide mouth stretching into a grin that reached its ears, like a cunning wolf. "I dare say, if you want to solve his problems, no one in this world is more suitable than I am."

Xiaosong stared at it, finding the big black dog's smile incredibly sly.

"What, you still don't trust me? Rest assured when this Emperor handles things!" the black dog said, patting its chest.

Xiaosong was speechless. Everyone in the Heavenly Court knew this dog was the most unreliable; its infamous legends, even after three hundred thousand years, were still widely circulated.

They arrived in the Heavenly Palace and saw Ye Fan on the chaotic stone bed. His eyes were closed, his hair was black, and his entire body shimmered with immortal light, as crystalline as seven-colored divine glass.

The Heavenly Emperor's aura was contained; not a hint of divine power emanated from him. He lay motionless, as if carved from jade.

"He truly has become the Supreme Heavenly Emperor, comparable to Emperor Wushi," the large black dog remarked, staring at Ye Fan for a long time before, to Xiaosong's surprise, it started drooling.

"What... what do you intend to do?!" Xiaosong asked, watching it warily.

"Do you know who he is?" the Black Emperor asked.

"My master."

"Who else is he?"

"The Heavenly Emperor."

"Exactly! The blood flowing through him is Heavenly Emperor blood!" The Black Emperor wiped its drool, its eyes glinting mischievously.

Xiaosong felt a headache coming on. This damned dog was showing its true colors again.

"There's nothing more to say. Since we're here, we might as well make it worth our while," the large black dog tempted Xiaosong.

"What... what exactly are you planning?" Xiaosong glared at it.

"What else could we do? Come on, come on, come on! Let's have three big bowls of Heavenly Emperor blood first, drink our fill. Then we can slowly figure out how to revive him," the large black dog said shamelessly.

Xiaosong was utterly speechless. "Uncle Black Emperor," he said, "can't you be a bit more reliable and not prey on those close to you?"

"Alright, let's seriously think about how to help him," the large black dog finally conceded.

Xiaosong also pondered, revisiting the scriptures Ye Fan had left behind, hoping to find clues or signs within them. Half a day later, upon his return, he found the Black Emperor clutching its cheek, grimacing oddly.

"What happened?" he asked a nearby young attendant.

"Ancestor Black Emperor, he..." The attendant hesitated, afraid to speak.

Xiaosong immediately understood. The large black dog was truly exasperating; it had, after all, bitten Ye Fan a few times, trying to get some Heavenly Emperor blood, only to nearly break all its own teeth.

"You should be glad Master's Dao is contained. Otherwise..." Xiaosong shook his head.

"Nonsense! Do you really think this Emperor is foolish? I wouldn't have bitten otherwise!" the large black dog retorted self-righteously. Then it began to seriously ponder and study the situation. After a long time, it finally said, "He must be attempting some legendary Great Dao. Relying solely on external forces probably won't awaken him."

Xiaosong nodded. He also believed his master was embarking on the path to longevity, which was related to his transformation and living his seventh life. If they understood the Dao of this current life, they should be able to assist him.

"I'll go to Master's secluded cultivation place to gain some insight. Perhaps I can learn what path he's taking in this life," Xiaosong said, and then departed.

"No need to investigate, I know what path he's treading. It must be the 'Great Dream of Ages'," the Black Emperor said. Having followed Emperor Wushi, it was, after all, quite knowledgeable.

"What kind of method is that?" Xiaosong asked.

The Black Emperor replied gravely, "It's a supreme method. One dreams for eons in slumber, experiencing hundreds of thousands of lives within the dream, refining one's heart and Dao in the river of time. It's a transcendence beyond the mortal realm."

It expounded on this method, but it was merely a theoretical path, extremely dangerous. Who would dare to spend an entire lifetime in a dream? Such a course was terrifying, and no Imperial Dao expert was willing to attempt it.

"An entire lifetime in a dream?" Xiaosong exclaimed, astonished.

"Exactly, for an entire lifetime!" The Black Emperor nodded. It paused, then added, "Unless he truly defies the heavens, capable of turning illusion into reality, and returning against all odds."

"Did Emperor Heng also cultivate a method like this?" Xiaosong's heart stirred.

"She once trod a similar path, but it shouldn't be the same," the Black Emperor shook its head. Some paths intersected, but they weren't about superiority or inferiority; they were different and needn't be compared.

With this, tranquility returned to the Heavenly Court. The Heavenly Emperor remained in a deep slumber, and Xiaosong sealed himself within a divine source, guarding him in the central Heavenly Palace.

The large black dog, however, emerged and reigned over the Heavenly Court for decades, overseeing the cosmos and guiding its affairs, finally ushering in a "Black Emperor" era, ruling for a brief period.

During this time, it sought out the descendants of the Silver Blood Twin Emperors, an important lineage in the current Heavenly Court, to inquire if they had found the legendary individual.

Upon receiving a negative answer, it grew momentarily disheartened, finally saying, "Normally, one such individual appears in the cultivation world every hundred thousand years or so. It's been three hundred thousand years now; this makes no sense! Continue searching, you still have a hundred thousand years!"

Finally, the large black dog fell into slumber once more, only to avoid dying of old age as time passed.

Ye Fan pacified restricted zones, quelled chaos, and relocated the Ancient Mine of Absolute Beginning, Immortal Mountain, Heaven, Divine Ruins, and other places, transforming them into the Heavenly Court's courtyards. Thus, there was naturally no shortage of immortal source fluid, primordial fate stones, and the like.

Time flew by, and twenty thousand years passed in a blink. Ye Fan awakened, sitting up in the dead of night, startling the Heavenly Court.

Xiaosong was startled awake. As he was guarding nearby, he emerged from the immortal source, his voice trembling as he cried, "Master!"

Twenty thousand years had passed, and Ye Fan, having dreamt for eons, had not aged. His vitality was robust, but his gaze was clouded with confusion. He simply tore through the void and vanished from the Heavenly Court.

Xiaosong was astonished and quickly gave chase, finding that Ye Fan had descended upon an ancient star, transforming into an ordinary person. His magic and other powers seemed to have vanished, and a few years later, he had become a fisherman by the sea.

"What's happening?" Xiaosong wondered, perplexed, and finally summoned the Black Emperor again.

"This lad has truly defied the heavens," the Black Emperor exclaimed. "He's experienced the 'Great Dream of Ages,' not only turning illusion into reality but also transforming ancient into modern. He has sublimated its profound meaning; he's genuinely living out lives, walking through ten thousand generations."

They diligently followed. Xiaosong's ample lifespan meant he was fine, but the Black Emperor couldn't bear it; it didn't emerge from its source but was carried by Xiaosong.

In this life, Ye Fan lived to be sixty-three, his hair graying. He eventually perished at sea while fishing, dying like any ordinary person.

However, after this brief life ended, the body buried at sea instantly rejuvenated. It fully recovered, shed its identity as a fisherman, tore through the cosmos, and entered another ancient star.

In this life, he became a soldier, fighting battles his entire life. He ultimately died on the battlefield in his fifties, his chest pierced through.

"Unbelievable!" the Black Emperor sighed.

Normally, even immortal artifacts might not be able to harm a Heavenly Emperor's body, but for his journey through ten thousand generations, he had merged dream and reality so intimately that the experience had evolved with such realism.

After the old soldier was buried on the battlefield, beneath the yellow earth, Ye Fan recovered once more and began another life. This time, he became a scholar, living a life of poverty and ultimately dying in obscurity.

"Can it not be so realistic?" the Black Emperor sighed, feeling another headache.

Eventually, even Xiaosong couldn't bear it. He sealed himself within an immortal source, leaving only a mark on his master that could be found at a crucial moment.

Thus, Ye Fan experienced life after life, for dozens, then hundreds of generations, spending over twenty thousand years in this mortal realm.

His identity constantly shifted. He traversed the vast mortal world, having been a beggar and a king, experiencing destitution and immense wealth, and even leading armies in conquest.

One day, the descendants of the Silver Blood Twin Emperors awakened the Black Emperor, reporting, "Ancestor, we have found such a person."

"What?!" The Black Emperor trembled, shattering its immortal source, and directly burst forth.

On GuChen Ancient Star, in Qingyun Province.

Yunchuan was a scenic place, not famous in Qingyun Province, as only ordinary people lived there, with no cultivators in sight.

Chenxi, a ten-year-old girl, was true to her name: like a clear stream in the morning light, she exuded a fresh, lively, and ethereal charm.

She was beautiful and intelligent. Although not a cultivator, she possessed an innate ethereal and transcendent aura that made her stand out, as if she embodied the spiritual essence of heaven and earth.

"Ancestor, should we take her with us?" asked the descendant of the Silver Blood Twin Emperors.

The Black Emperor trembled with excitement but firmly and decisively shook its head. "No," it said, "let nature take its course. Do not change her life's trajectory in such a way."

This was, astonishingly, a congenital Dao body, like a pearl veiled in dust, hidden in this small place, completely unnoticed by anyone.

"This is a divine bloodline! Ancestor, are you truly not taking her back to the Heavenly Court?"

The Black Emperor shook its head resolutely. "Although I am acting against the heavens, I do not wish for her to suffer harm or grievance. It is imperative to let nature take its course."

They left people to guard her. Afterward, the large black dog raced back to the Heavenly Court. It couldn't bring itself to harm the girl, who was like morning dew in the dawn light, but it had no qualms about Ye Fan.

"Heavenly Emperor, you're the one getting sorted out!" the Black Emperor bared its teeth. It found Xiaosong and asked, "Don't you think Young Ye's journey through ten thousand lives has a flaw?"

Xiaosong was startled. "What flaw?"

"He's deliberately avoiding something," the large black dog said earnestly. "Having gone through over four hundred lives without ever marrying or having children—this is his subconscious at work, limiting his path. Such deliberate avoidance is already inferior."

Xiaosong was dumbfounded, thinking this unreliable big dog was about to cause trouble again.

"I'm telling the truth!" the Black Emperor said, almost frantically. "It's too deliberate; it doesn't align with refining one's heart and Dao in the mortal realm. We should help him!"

"I can't make this decision for Master!" Although Xiaosong was usually shy and innocent, he knew better in such matters. This dog was being unreliable again.

"I'm serious!" The large black dog grew anxious. It pulled Xiaosong down to sit, earnestly expounding on the profound meaning of the "Great Dream of Ages" and its potential drawbacks.

For three days and three nights, the Black Emperor's spittle flew everywhere, its mouth was dry, and its throat felt like it was on fire, leaving Xiaosong feeling somewhat dizzy and muddled.

Finally, Xiaosong spoke. "Since Master's subconscious has already limited himself, whatever you want to remedy is useless; it simply cannot be changed."

"I can't change it, but someone can," the Black Emperor said, needing only this promise from Xiaosong. Then it added solemnly and seriously, "It truly hasn't been easy for Ye Fan to reach this point. You wouldn't want a single flaw to prevent his Great Dao in this life from being complete, would you?"

After ten days and ten nights of the Black Emperor practically frothing at the mouth, Xiaosong's head ached from listening. He finally nodded in agreement, but as soon as he assented, he felt as though he had been conned by the dog, realizing that most of what it said was likely unreliable.

However, after studying the "Great Dream of Ages" method, he also felt that one's mortal realm experiences should encompass everything. Secretly murmuring an apology to his master, he immediately entered secluded cultivation for the next century.

In this world, only one thing could influence the Heavenly Emperor's subconscious: the Cauldron of Myriad Things, which had long been an immortal artifact. Having been with Ye Fan for such a long time, their destinies intertwined, it could reverse the situation while he was in slumber.

Upon arriving in the central Heavenly Palace and seeing the ancient, majestic cauldron, the Black Emperor earnestly explained its purpose. As expected, it was immediately rejected.

But it was very patient, sitting down and stating its case earnestly: "What we cultivators pursue now is no longer the issue of a single person attaining immortality. Rather, it is the profound righteousness of exploring why the immortal path has been severed for eons. No one has been able to achieve true longevity. Human capabilities are finite; although the Heavenly Emperor defies the heavens, it's not certain he can reach the end of the immortal path. Why not exhaust all resources and means to leave hope, allowing the most capable individuals to participate? Do you dare say that a Congenital Sacred Body Dao Embryo lacks such qualifications? If Ye Fan unfortunately perishes in the future, who will inherit the path he explored, his Great Dao will? This child will be a spark to inherit his legacy, carrying on the aspirations of us cultivators. For he will absolutely be no weaker than the Heavenly Emperor! He can continue to explore the fundamental reason why this path was severed. What do I seek? What are we cultivators striving for? We are not plotting for a single immortal, but for the ultimate truth and origin of the eons!"

Rarely so serious, the Black Emperor admonished the Cauldron of Myriad Things, its words resounding, righteous, and severe.

The Immortal Cauldron remained silent, but another immortal artifact spoke. "Well said, 'What do I seek, and what are we cultivators striving for?' I agree!"

The Desolate Pagoda emitted a divine sound, rumbling. Usually, it ignored even the Heavenly Emperor, always responding with silence, but now, for the first time, it spoke so openly.

The Cauldron of Myriad Things then spoke, sighing, "Although I know you are deceiving and are the most unreliable, this time I also want to be unreliable just once. If the Heavenly Emperor fails in his battle on the immortal path, leaving behind a seed of hope would be good."

After the two immortal artifacts made their decision, they immediately took action, especially the Cauldron of Myriad Things, which moved to influence Ye Fan's subconscious, intending to alter the path he had deliberately avoided.

GuChen Star, Qingyun Province.

Yunchuan, not a very large place, was where two exceptionally remarkable individuals inevitably met. Following nature's course, they eventually came together years later.

Chenxi was ethereal, like an immortal flower just blossoming. Though she was a congenital Dao body, she never cultivated and slowly aged over several decades.

During this process, Ye Fan slowly aged with her. He was already undergoing his tribulation; this was a very real life experience.

In their later years, they had a son, a male infant who, at birth, nearly absorbed all the essence of the entire ancient star and nearby star systems, causing a stir in the mortal world.

Fortunately, the Desolate Pagoda and the Cauldron of Myriad Things had prepared in advance, and the Black Emperor had also made arrangements, providing countless divine sources and other essences. They also concealed Yunchuan and sealed the infant, preventing any news from leaking out.

For these past decades, Chenxi was very content and happy. Intelligent and cheerful, she was perfectly satisfied with having a man she deeply cherished to grow old with, their hair turning white together.

Neither of them was aware, and if nothing had been said, Chenxi would have lived out her life in peaceful contentment until its end, just like many other happy people.

However, in the end, the Black Emperor developed a complex in its heart, unsure whether what it had done was right or wrong, and whether it was fair to the girl.

At this moment, it was the Immortal Cauldron that came to enlighten the Black Emperor, saying, "Her life was very fulfilling and happy. Ending it peacefully like this is just like how many happy people in the world conclude theirs."

"But this Emperor still feels bad," the Black Emperor said, feeling such shame for the first time. "If one day the little boy asks me who his mother was, how will I answer?"

It felt no guilt towards Ye Fan at all, completely ignoring him. In its view, the Heavenly Emperor could withstand any setback or blow.

Finally, when the Black Emperor saw the two elderly individuals, who had supported each other into old age without a single quarrel throughout their lives, it gathered its courage and found an opportunity to tell Chenxi the truth.

"The Heavenly Emperor?" At first, Chenxi, whose youth had long faded and who had already aged considerably, didn't believe it. But when the Black Emperor displayed various divine abilities and revealed some of the underlying reasons, she became convinced.

"I want to bring you into the Heavenly Court and guide you onto the path of cultivation, so you can exist forever in the world," the Black Emperor said, making such a decision.

However, Chenxi's reaction was beyond its expectation. This once ethereal girl, though aged, still emanated a brilliant wisdom.

"To have walked hand-in-hand with the Heavenly Emperor for a lifetime, I am already very content," she said. "I was already very happy. Wouldn't it be beautiful for it to end this way? You didn't actually need to come find me and tell me all this."

The Black Emperor stared blankly, dumbfounded by the woman's response. It felt an increasing sense of guilt and insisted on inviting her to the Heavenly Court to extend her life.

Chenxi smiled, smoothing her white hair. "The person I love is the one who accompanied me into old age in this life, not the true Heavenly Emperor who rules over all. If I were to return to the Heavenly Court, he would have his vast sky, but I? I would still only love the people and things here. The most important thing in life isn't permanent possession; we were touched, we accompanied each other into old age. I am very content; having all of this is enough."

She smiled, but her refusal was firm.

"Mommy!"

From a distance, a young child, lively and adorable, came running, followed by a white-haired old man who watched him kindly as they walked together.

The large black dog turned, feeling somewhat disheartened for reasons unknown. Had it made a mistake this time? If not for it, none of this would have happened. Although Chenxi's life was happy and complete, the Black Emperor ultimately felt a lingering sense of guilt.

If it hadn't created extra complications, none of this distress would exist. But how could it have been content otherwise?

Under the setting sun, the family of three, though two were white-haired and aged, walked away together, guiding a small figure. They appeared tranquil, harmonious, and utterly content.

"Sigh, why do I still feel a pang in my heart?" The large black dog slapped itself hard, stumbling back and nearly falling.

"If this happiness could have lasted, perhaps I wouldn't feel this way," the Black Emperor sighed. "Soon, they will eventually part: one will die of old age, while the other will become the Heavenly Emperor of the Nine Heavens. It's this outcome that I detest."

"Actually, you can change all of this," the Cauldron of Myriad Things said.

A year later, a new grave appeared in Yunchuan, in which Chenxi was buried.

The white-haired Ye Fan wept, staying there in silent vigil, sitting alone in a daze. The little boy was taken away by a "master" to seek immortality and cultivate the Dao.

The Congenital Sacred Body Dao Embryo was, naturally, brought back to the Heavenly Court and sealed within a source. The Black Emperor began preparations, gathering all sorts of divine materials to lay the foundation for his cultivation.

A few years later, the white-haired Ye Fan died of old age and was buried. Soon after, he did not begin another life but truly awakened, returning directly to the Heavenly Court.

His black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and his gaze was like cold lightning as he stared at the Cauldron of Myriad Things. In this world, only this cauldron could exert some influence on him during his unconscious state, for they were originally one entity.

The Cauldron of Myriad Things trembled, almost shattering.

Finally, Ye Fan left and stood before the Black Emperor, saying nothing, just staring at it for a long time.

For a rare time, the Black Emperor felt guilty. It lowered its head in silence, offering no rebuttal.

Ye Fan departed, returning to Yunchuan and sitting before the woman's grave. He remained silent for a long time, the decades he had lived there flashing through his mind, causing him to tremble.

Finally, he shattered the grave and retrieved a massive divine source from within, which contained Chenxi, sealed. Her lifespan was, naturally, not yet at its end; she still had about twenty years to live.

"The Black Emperor is always a scoundrel!" Ye Fan murmured.

He knew the rascal felt guilty and didn't know what to do, so it had dumped all the aftermath onto him, sealing Chenxi for him to decide her fate himself.

Although this mortal life he had experienced was brief, it was etched deep into his memory; otherwise, he would not have awakened. The Heavenly Emperor was not heartless.

Ye Fan held the divine source, his eyes showing a gentle light as he looked at the woman. Then, with a sigh, he returned to the Heavenly Court, placed her in the central Heavenly Palace, and entered a deep slumber himself.

"What happened to Master?" Xiaosong asked upon waking.

"The 'Great Dream of Ages' is now complete," the Black Emperor said. "He is treading the path to longevity within his heart, seeking and progressing within this Dao realm." It added that it was unknown how many thousands of years it would take for him to finish.

"And her..." Xiaosong saw Chenxi within the source and respectfully bowed.

"Send her to the sealed land. In the future, it will be up to the Heavenly Emperor to resolve," the Black Emperor said, as cunning as ever, tossing all the troublesome matters to Ye Fan.

In the cosmos, nine dragons soared across the sky, slowly pulling a massive ancient bronze coffin, moving from one domain to another.

Many saw it, and the news, once spread, shook the universe. Countless heroes from all directions rushed towards it, but ultimately no one could catch up.

Whenever someone approached, it would vanish from the void, only to reappear in another domain.

The Heavenly Court dispatched a large contingent of its forces, knowing that Ye Fan had once embarked on the path of cultivation because of the Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin. However, the Heavenly Court gained no insight.

"The Heavenly Emperor is in slumber; otherwise, he would surely capture it!"

In the same year, someone in a certain domain witnessed five-colored immortal light soaring skyward. There were, astonishingly, five sources of creation, feeding a stone egg that radiated myriad colorful glows.

The world was shocked and wanted to rush over, but the area instantly grew dark, and they vanished in a flash.

The Heavenly Emperor had long surpassed Source Masters in the field of Source Art, yet when he searched the world's mountains and rivers, he had never found a single true source of creation. Now, five had appeared simultaneously there, astonishing everyone.

"Damn it!" the Black Emperor fumed. "It seems the Undying Heavenly Emperor found all the world's sources of creation eons ago. He gave one to the Heavenly Emperor's son and left five for that stone egg."

Finally, it sneered again. "It doesn't matter. Let's see who's stronger and who's weaker. The Wushi Scripture, sealed for ages, should now emerge!"